Weekly Jobless Claims Jump to 302,000

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — After falling in the previous week, claims for unemployment benefits jumped in the fourth week of July, according to the Labor Department’s latest report released Thursday.

For the week ending July 26, the department said claims increased by 23,000 to 302,000. The previous week, claims stood at 279,000, revised down by 5,000 from 284,000.

The four-week average was also adjusted, falling by 3,500 to 297,250 — the lowest level for this average since April 2006 when it was 296,000.

The Labor Department said there were no “special factors” impacting this week’s figures.